Chapter 24 Dealing with Shen Yelan
After Ye Xunyang finished dinner, he noticed that Lou Jin had not yet come out of the study.
He then wanted to go to the study to share with Lou Jin the interesting stories about the border that his elder brother had told him, and also to ask his elder brother if there were any problems with his report on his duties.
Upon reaching the outside of the study, he saw Wang Quan standing guard at the door, his expression somewhat subtle.
"Your Highness," Wang Quan bowed and said in a low voice.
"His Highness just said he was a little tired and ordered that no one should disturb him."
Ye Xunyang paused, somewhat surprised.
It was only past 5 PM. Lou Jin rarely rested at this time of day. Could it be that he was tired from meeting guests today?
He nodded understandingly: "Oh, okay, then let Your Highness rest well, I'll come later."
Lou Jin did not rest in the study.
He leaned back on the soft couch by the window, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the couch table, his gaze fixed on the view outside the window, but not on anything else.
Shanlan's report still rings in my ears.
"Shen Yelan kept young boys, indulged in homosexuality, and forcibly abducted men from the common people. His father, Deputy General Shen, used his power to suppress the abuse..."
He was not a pedantic person and had no prejudice against homosexuality. Moreover, he was now clear about his own feelings for Ye Xunyang and could not deceive himself.
But Shen Yelan's actions were by no means driven by emotion, especially his seemingly familiar intimacy with Xunyang.
Lou Jin closed his eyes, and Ye Xunyang's bright smile appeared in his mind. He would never allow such a person or thing to tarnish Xunyang, even if it was only a potential possibility.
However, it would be impossible for him to take matters into his own hands and deal with Shen Yelan directly.
Shen Yelan is the son of a former member of the Ye family and has a deep brotherly bond with Xunyang. If he were to take action, it would inevitably embarrass the Ye family and might even cause misunderstandings, sowing discord between him and Xunyang, who had worked so hard to build a good relationship.
General Ye is upright and incorruptible. If he knew about this matter, he would certainly not tolerate it. However, it would be best for the Ye family to discover and handle it themselves.
Lou Jin opened his eyes, summoned Shan Lan, and whispered a few instructions.
"There's no need to expose them directly. Just subtly deliver the clues to the right people. Remember, make it look like an accidental discovery, completely unrelated to our King Jin's manor."
"Yes, Master." Shan Lan accepted the order and instantly disappeared into the shadows.
Lou Jin looked out the window again, already having made up his mind.
Border affairs are far from the emperor's reach, but if irrefutable evidence is presented before him, the guilt will be undeniable.
Three days later, a sixth-rank military officer who had returned to the capital from the border to report on his duties got into an argument with someone in a tavern.
In a drunken rage, he revealed the shameful affair of a border general's son who had forcibly abducted a civilian, but was protected by local officials.
Coincidentally, these words were overheard by Liu Yushi's student, who was also in the tavern.
Imperial Censor Liu immediately sensed something unusual. He worked through the night to gather clues and used his connections to secretly investigate, quickly obtaining some conclusive evidence.
Three days later, at the morning court session, Imperial Censor Liu presented a list of memorials impeaching Deputy General Shen of the border for allowing his son to commit violence and for local officials for bending the law for personal gain. The evidence was clear, and the language was vehement.
In the Golden Palace, the emperor's face instantly darkened.
With the border unstable, the worst thing is for generals to become disloyal, and oppressing the people is an even greater taboo. He immediately ordered a thorough investigation into the matter, and all those involved were to be severely punished.
When the news reached the General's Mansion, Ye Xunyang had just overheard it from Lou Jin and returned to the mansion to ask his father for the truth.
Upon learning from his father that the matter was indeed true, he stood up in shock: "Shen Yelan? He really did such a thing?"
Ye Qing's face was ashen, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. He was an honest man who hated his subordinates who abused their power.
Deputy General Shen was his long-time subordinate, yet he was so muddle-headed; Shen Yelan was a child he had watched grow up, yet he had become so despicable.
"Father, about this matter..." Ye Xunyang looked at his father, his eyes filled with disbelief and heartache.
"Investigate!" General Ye's voice was heavy with sorrow, yet resolute.
"If true, they shall be dealt with according to military law. Such scum cannot be tolerated in the Ye family's army!"
Soon, the emperor's decree and General Ye's family rules arrived at the border at the same time.
Shen will be dismissed from his post and investigated. The evidence of Shen Yelan's crimes is conclusive, and he has been imprisoned pending trial.
Ye Xunyang was extremely conflicted; he simply couldn't connect Shen Yelan with the heinous act of abducting a boy.
If this matter had not been exposed, would he have remained in the dark forever?
He instinctively wanted to go to the study to find Lou Jin.
When he pushed open the study door, Lou Jin was sitting by the window reading a book.
"Your Highness..." Ye Xunyang's voice was somewhat dejected.
Lou Jin put down his book, looked at him calmly, and asked, "Is it about the Shen family?"
Ye Xunyang nodded, walked over and sat down next to him, like a golden retriever seeking comfort.
"Yes. I... I never imagined Ye Lan would turn out like this. He wasn't like this when he was little..."
Lou Jin felt a pang of sadness seeing his distressed expression.
He reached out and gently patted Ye Xunyang's hand, the movement natural.
"Human hearts are fickle, especially in the face of power and desire. It is fortunate that we discovered this early. At least, it did not lead to a greater disaster and preserved the Ye family's reputation."
His voice was steady, carrying a soothing quality.
Ye Xunyang looked up and gazed into Lou Jin's deep eyes, suddenly feeling much more at ease.
If we wait until Shen Yelan causes even bigger trouble, or even implicates the Ye family, then we will truly regret it.
"Your Highness is right."
"But I still feel a little bad. After all, when we were at the border, my father and brothers were often busy, and there were few children my age. He was one of my best friends. I never expected this."
"It's alright."
"It will be fine in a few days. But your brother is about to report for duty, so don't let this affect your mood."
Mentioning his elder brother, Ye Xunyang's attention shifted somewhat: "Yes, my elder brother is about to meet the emperor. I hope everything goes smoothly."
"Yes, it will." Lou Jin said confidently, as if he had everything under control.
Ye Xunyang ultimately couldn't suppress the confusion and a hint of indescribable panic in his heart.
He needed to ask Shen Yelan in person why their childhood friend, who had once raided bird nests together and protected each other even when they were punished, had come to this.
He didn't tell anyone, using the excuse of going home, but shed the prince's entourage and went alone to the imperial prison where serious criminals were held.
In the dark and damp cell, Shen Yelan, dressed in prison clothes with disheveled hair, had long lost his former dashing demeanor, replaced only by resentment and despair.
Upon seeing Ye Xunyang, Shen Yelan was taken aback for a moment, then let out a sneer: "Oh, isn't this Princess Jin? Why have you condescended to come to a place like this?"
Ye Xunyang gave the jailer a few strings of cash, told him to open the cell door, went inside, stood a few steps away, and looked at him with complicated feelings.
"Yelan, I just want to ask you, why? You weren't like this before."
"before?"
Shen Yelan looked up sharply at him as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.
"Ye Xunyang, you're still so naive! What did you think I called you brother before? Just because you were adorably stupid?"
"It's all because your father is a Grand General who protects the country! If you follow him, you can do whatever you want on the border!"
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